Combined step-ladder and chair



2 Sheets-Sheet; 1.

(No' Model.)

K. P. RAWSON. COMBINED STEP LADDER AND GHAIR.

No. 448,367. Patented Mar. 17,1891.

WITNESSES (No Modei.) K. P. RAWSON 2 Sheets--Shet 2'.

GOMBiNED STEP LADDER AND GHAIR.

No. 448,367. Patented Mar. 17, 1891. I

WITNESSES: L V a a/a w 0g w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KIMBALL P. RAYVSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED STEP-LADDER AND CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,367, dated March 17, 1891. Application filed December 8, 1889. Renewed January 28 1891. Serial No. 379,399. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, KIMBALL P. RAWSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Step-Ladder and Chair, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a combined stepladder and chair; and it consists of the novel construction of a seat adapted to be made continuous or without a break in the body thereof, having hangers pivotally connected to the posts or pillars of the chair.

It further consists of a preferred arrangement of the legs and pillars of the device, and also of the manner of hinging the separable parts. a

It further consists of certain details of construction, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a combined step-ladder and chair embodying my invention and arranged as a chair. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the device arranged as a step-ladder. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of a combined step-ladder and chair, shown folded in the form of a chair in full lines and the manner of changing from a step-ladder to a chair in dotted lines. Fig. 4 represents a detail perspective view of the forward under part of the seat, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of a combined step-ladder and chair, arranged in the form of a step-ladder, showing the chair-seat depending free of interference of other parts. Fig. 6 represents a detail sectional perspective view of a portion of the seat and one pillar, showing the manner of connecting said seat with the pillar. Fig. 7 represents a section on the line 00 on, Fig. 5. Fig.8 represents a side elevation of a portion of the device shown open and forming a stepladder, and illustrating the manner of securing the hinge used for this purpose. Fig. 9 represents a sectional view of a portion of a combined step-ladder and chair, wherein is employed a seat divided into two parts and hinged, said View illustrating the manner of inserting the screws of the hinge.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, A and B designate sections of a combined step-ladder and chair, the same being provided with a seat 0, which is hinged to the back or adjacent portion of the chair.

The section A comprises the pillars A, extended to form the back of the chair, and at the lower ends of said pillars is secured a base-board D to form a step when the sections are arranged as a step-ladder. Inclined legs 0' run from the board D upward to form part of the step-rest and at their upper ends are connected to pillars A by cross-pieces C The lower end of each leg C is attached to a lateral extension A integral with the lower end of each pillar, and which has heretofore been constructed as a separate piece and inserted between said parts. By the integral construction set forth the place of jointure of the lower ends of said pillars A and the legs 0 is materially strengthened.

The section B is formed with inclined legs E, connected to the upper part of legs 0 of section A by hinges M. The front legs or pillars F of section B have lateral extensions E, which are'attached to legs E. Said extensions F are integral with the pillars F, and also strengthen the same by the increase of material at the place of joining with the legs E.

A step-board G is connected to the inner sides of pillars A and inclined legs Cof section A about midway between the base-board D and the braces 0 and in line therewith and abutting thereagainst in section B is lo cated a step-hoard G, attached to the inner sides of inclined legs E and pillars F.

011 the top front part of section B is situated a board H, having a curved outwardlyprojeeting edge H, adapted to form a rest for the front of seat 0 and made broad enough to form one step of the ladder when the sections A and B are opened, as shown in Fig. 2.

The lower ends of legs E are recessed, as at 9 (Z, to fit over the edge of the base-board D when folded down, to thereby allow the legs 0 and E of the two sectionsA andB to bear against each other.

The seat C, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, continues without a break joint from the front to rear, the pivotal attachment being at the rear in stead of intermediate of the front and rear, as known in fo mer constructions, an illustration of which is shown in Fig. 8.

The inner edge of the front cross-piece J of the seat 0 is curved, as shown in Figs. 1 and at, to freely pass over the curved edge 11 of strip H when changing the device from a stepladder to a chair. The under front edge of said seat has also a hook or other suitable catch K secured thereto, which is adapted to engage the said projecting edge H of strip H to hold the seat down in its place. The under side of the seat is also formed with recessesc to fit over the projecting knuckles of the hinges joining the two parts A and B to allow the seat to closely lie against the top parts of the said sections A and B.

The rear of the seat 0 is connected to the pillars A of section A by hangers L, consisting of metal plates with studs L, bearing in said pillars A, and having grooves L Fig. 7, to fit over the angular cut-away portion of each side of the seat, being held in contact therewith by a screw L.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 8, the legs E and C of the sections A and B are connected by long strap-hinges M, secured by screws M near the outer ends thereof and screws 1' 2 near the knuckles of each hinge, said screws passing into the legs (2 and E and into the braces thereof, as shown in Fig. 9. A similar hinge is arranged in connection with the seat shown in Fig. 9, which is constructed with a break joint and of solid construction. In this instance it will be observed that the screws M nearest the knuckles of the hinge extend through or into the seat-board sections at an angle and alsointo thelegs C and E, thus avoiding splitting of the seat when made in this form, and thereby strengthening the construction.

It will be understood that whenthe sections A and B are folded into a chair they will be secured by hooks and eyes oranalogous fastenings IV relatively attached to said sections and adapted to hold the said sections together in a firm and compact manner.

To convert the device from a chair to a stepladder, the fastenings IV are released, and as the section A turns the seat C is raised and moved forward, whereby the hook K leaves the edge H of board H, as seen in Fig. 3, so that the said hook K of seat 0 is automatically detached from theedge H of the board H, and when the section B is in position the seat depends freely between the two sec tions, as shown in Fig. 2. The braces G of section A now rest on the section 13, legs 0 and E form the side rails of the latter, and the base-board D the top step, the board aaascv G of section A the next lower step, the top board H of section B the next step,-and the board G of section B the lowermost step. When the sections A and B are folded into a chair, section A is thrown back until the baseboard D rests on the floor and legs 0 and E bear against each other, which movement is illustrated in Fig. 3. In this instance the inner curved edge of cross-piece J freely rides over the projecting curved edge Hof board H, bearing closely thereagainst until the hook or catch K engages said edge H of board H to thereby hold the seat down. The fastenings \/V are now secured and the sections arranged in the form of a chair, which is held firm or intact, and may be lifted without disengaging the seat from the piece H.

Suitable braces or arms N may be used, if desired, and connect the parts, as shown in dotted lines.

It will be understood that seat 0 may be upholstered or covered with cane, a ventilated wood bottom, or other analogous covering.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A combined step-ladder and chair, comprising the separable sections Aand B, hinged to each other and having inclined legs 0 and E, adapted to be folded against each other, the pillar A of section A having an integral laterally-projecting extension A lying against and secured to the leg C, the pillar F of section B having alaterally-projecting extension lying against the leg E, said extensions being reversely arranged, the board H, attached to section B and having a projecting ledge, and a hinged seat 0, having a projecting board H, with. an under hook K to engage the edge of the projecting ledge of board II, substantially as described.

2. In a combined step-ladderand chair, the sections A and 13, hinged together and having inclined legs 0 and E, adapted to bear against each other, aboard H, attached to said section B and having a projecting ledge with a curved edge H beyond the said section B, and an unbroken seat C, hinged at rear to pillars of section A and having a projecting cross-strip J, with an inner curved edge adapted to clear the said curved projecting edge II of i the board II when said seat is lowered and raised, said seat also having recesses c to fit over projeeting knuckles of the connecting hinges, and a hook K on the under side of the said strip J to engage said projecting edge I-I, substantially as described.

KIMBALL P. RAWSON. Vitnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERsHEIM, L. JENNINGS.

ICC 

